Onana's perfect response to Neville after Man Utd goalkeeping howler

Stuart Telford

• 6 Aug 2023 12:12 BST
• 3 min read

Andre Onana was lobbed from the centre-circle in Manchester United's final pre-season friendly, but has now spoken out after Gary Neville's claim about his position.

Onana joined United from Inter Milan for €52.5 million, with the goalkeeper's ball-playing ability part of the reason Erik ten Hag as so keen to replace David de Gea with his former Ajax charge.

But the flip side of Onana's game was exposed on Saturday when Lens' Florian Sotoca lobbed the Cameroonian from the halfway line, before the Red Devils came back to win 3-1 with goals from Marcus Rashford, Antony and Casemiro.

READ: 'BRILLIANT' Onana is the PERFECT fit to replace De Gea, says ex-Man Utd wonderkid

Neville had previously discussed the Manchester United goalkeeping position on the Overlap in March, when De Gea was still struggling with Ten Hag's playing style despite ending the season with 17 clean sheets in the Premier League.

Most difficult position in football?

"It's the single most difficult position in English football," said the former right-back. "The Manchester United goalkeeper comes under more scrutiny if they make a mistake than any other position in English football on the pitch. It's tough and I've seen lads in that goal [struggle]. That's the problem they've got."

Onana now has his first major howler under his belt, but the former Barcelona, Ajax and Inter man isn't shying away from it.

READ: Ten Hag MUST DELIVER after lavish Man Utd spending

"I'm responsible for everything," he told MUTV. "I'm the big man at the back so I take all the [criticism] and all the pressure for [myself]."

Onana had previously won praise for the way he commanded his defence against Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid in pre-season, while his distribution was on full display when Inter were edged 1-0 by Manchester City in June's Champions League final.

As well as Onana, United have signed Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount from Atalanta and Chelsea respectively this summer, while Jonny Evans has been handed a one-year deal after leaving Leicester.